{"id":188166,"date":"2025-12-17T11:44:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T11:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/188166\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T11:44:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T11:44:24","slug":"christmas-day-forecast-wet-weather-likely-in-south-and-west-metservice-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/188166\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Day forecast: Wet weather likely in south and west, MetService says"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u201cWith the current information set up, wet weather is more likely in the south and west, maybe some passing showers for western parts of the North Island.\u201d<\/p>\n
With only eight sleeps until Christmas, new forecasts predict some areas will be lucky to dodge the rain on the big day. Photo \/ Sylvie Whinray <\/p>\n
Where is the place to be? <\/p>\n
Ferris said that, as is tradition, eastern areas of both the North and South Islands look to be the best places in terms of having warm, sunnier days.<\/p>\n
He also said the most northern parts of New Zealand are expected to be the warmest and finest for Christmas Day.<\/p>\n
Ferris said Kiwis in those eastern areas will likely get some warmer winds too.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of temperatures, most places have already kind of dipped down, especially if you look at the highs that we were having just last week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last week, sizzling temperatures were felt across the country as Auckland hit 28C, Napier Airport 34C and Wairoa 32C.<\/p>\n
Ferris said some regions have dropped to lower than average temperatures for this time of year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s always a timely reminder that December is often going to have these sorts of swings in temperatures.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still a sort of hangover from spring where we can have that colder air push up from the south, which is what we\u2019re seeing,\u201d Ferris said.<\/p>\n
He said these colder temperatures could linger through to next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does look like the top of the North Island is kind of spared from the cold air that has been moving up the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ferris said Central Otago, the northern parts of the South Island, and the central parts of the North Island are areas where the weather \u201ccould go either way\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople will just need to keep an eye on that forecast, especially if they\u2019re planning that sort of outdoors Christmas lunch, because [they] might need to be squeezing the whole wh\u0101nau around the dining table inside.\u201d<\/p>\n